Pressure indicator and valve.



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M PLICATION FILED SEPT. 27.. |916.

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4 f FICE@ WIILLIAM W. LOWER, F TYRQNE, PENNSYLVNI.

PRESSURE INDICATOR AND VALVE.

@mm Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed September 27, 1916. Serial No. 122,357.

.To all 'whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that l, `WILLIAM W. LOWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tyrone, in the county of Blair and State of ennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Presure Tndicators and Valves; and T hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention yis a novel pressure indicator and valve especially intended for use with pneumatic tires but applicable to other objects. lits object is to provide novel means whereby the amount of pressure in the tire or other object to which the device is applied, can be visually indicated, and the pressure increased or diminished tifthe desired extent.

With this invention when it is desired to mlate a tire the air supply tube is connected to the inlet of the device and as the compressed air goes into the tire the indicarise out of the valve stem; and when the desired amount of pressure is in the tire, the indicator forced back into the stem, and by the replacement of the stem cap, thereby insuring sealing the valve and protecting the indicator.

l will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and summarize in the lclaims the essential features and combinations of parts which it is desired to protect.

In said drawings: Figure l is a sectional elevation of the indicator valve showing the parts in closed oir-sealed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cap removed, and parts in position preparatory to admitting air into the tube. Fig. 3 is a view showing the cap removed and the indicator partly projected by the air pressure within the tube.

ln the construction shown in the drawings, the device comprises a tubular stem l which resembles those commonly used for housing the valves of pneumatic tires for automobile wheels and the like; this stem is externally threaded and its inner end is screwed onto a nipple 2 provided with clamping members 2a, 2b, 2c, such as are commonly employed for connecting the stem to an inner tube, and need no particular descriptionk herein. The nipple 2 is prothe stem l is a valve the air tube can be disconnected,

l vided with an axial passage 2e for air, and

at the outer end of this passage and within seat 2f. Screwed with- 1n` the' lower end of the stem, and above the nipple 2,`is a bushing 3 which has areduced inner portlon 3a, threaded for`A engagement with a spring 6.

,Within the stem, above the bushing 3, is'

slidably l'itted an indicator 4t, which .is preferably slightly smaller in external diameter than the interior of the stem; and is also preferably tubular. Within the indicator, and near its upper end, is a valve seat 4f. The upper outer end or' the indicator is reduced and externally threaded as at ta for engagement with an air tube or nozzle indicated at A in the drawings; this air tube being the usual type such as commonly employed for supplying compressed air to the stem.

To the lower end of indicator i is attached a piston or packing 5a, which may be secured to the stem by means of a tubular member 5 having a reduced threadedl outer end 5 screwed into the corresponding internally threaded lower end of the bore of indicator 4; said member 5 holding the packing firmly in place and forming there` with a valve on the 4inner end of the indicator which will prevent leakage or passage of air around the lower end of the indicator and between it and the stem l. The part 5 also has its inner end reduced and externally threaded as shown at 5b. The parts 3 and 5 are yieldably connected preferably by means of a stout helical retractile spring 6 which may be conveniently attached to said members by screwing the ends of the spring onto the threaded portions 3l and 5b respectively as shown.

The upper end of the stem l may be contracted as at l.e to make a close fitting joint with the exterior of `the indicator, the indicator beirg guided by the portion lB and the piston 5a in its movement longitudinally of the stem l.

Extending through the stem, the indicator and nipple 2 is a valve rod Z carrying a valve .2V adapted to be forcibly seated on the seat 2f, when the parts are,y in the position shown in Fig. l, to prevent back passage of air from the tube into the stem. This rod 7 also carries a valve iv Awhich is adapted to engage seat 4f when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and prevent escape of airl trom the stem preferably externally i roe through the indicator. rlhe rod 7 is normally held in the position indicated in Fig. 2, by means of an expansion helical spring 7* interposed between the valve 4 and the part 5 of the member 5; but when air under greater pressure than that within the stem is admitted through pipe A it will unseat the valve 4" and pass on through the indicator and stem and nipple 2 into the tube. The air pressure in the tube and stem will react against piston 5a and tend to force the indicator 4 out of thestem 1, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the greater the air pressure the farther the indicator will be projected from the stem.

The projection of the stem is however opposed by the spring' 6; which should be of suficient strength, and the indicator may be provided with an external graduated scale, as indicated in Fig. 3, whereby the internal pressure will be shown, according to the projection of such rindicator above the end of the stem.

After the desired amount of air has been supplied to the tube the pipe A is disconnected; and a cap 8 is placed over the outer end of the indicator and forced inward until it can be engaged with the end of the stem 1 onto which it is screwed as indicated in Fig. 1. As the cap is applied the indicator will be depressed against the action of the air and after the cap is engaged with the stem and screwed home the valve 4", will be unseated and the valve 2" will be seated as indicated in Fig. 1, thus positively preventing the escape of air through the vpressure in the tube.

The valves 2", 4" may be of any desired suitable material and shape. The amount of air pressure in the tire at any time can be readily ascertained by simply removing the cap 8 and observing the extent to which the indicator 4 is projected by the air. Spring 7b normally actsto close the valve 4" and open valve 2v; while spring 6 tends to retract the indicator into the stem and resists the tendency of the air pressure in the tube to eject the indicator.

rlhe stem and gage in the form shown are adapted for use in connection with pneumatic tires or vehicle wheels; and the parts 2, 2a, 2", 2 are such as are commonly used in attaching the stem to the tube, and the nut or collar screwed onto the stem is such as is commonly employed in fastening the stem to the wheel rim.

When it is desired to inflate the tire, the cap 8 is removed and the air supply pipe A connected to the end 4a of the indicator and air admitted into the tube; as the air accumulates inthe tube the indicator 4 will rise above or out of the stem 1 according to the When the desired amount of air is in the tube, as can be determined by he scale on the indicator, the

Y means for preventmg Laia-sic air pipe is disconnected, and the'indicator forced cap 8 as indicated in Fig. 1.

What I claim is:v l

1. ln a pressure indicator and valve, the combination of a tubular stem, means for attaching the stem to an object, a valve seat in thelower end of said stem, a slidable indica-y tor adapted to be projected from the stem,

the escape of air between the indicator and stem, a valve seat near the outer end of said indicator, a spring for retracting the indicator within the stem, arod extending through the indicator stem and valve seats; a valve on said rod adapted to close the seat in the indicator, a second valve on such rod adapted to close the seat in the stem when the rod is forced inward; and a spring for normally projecting the rod to close the valve seat in the indicator.

2. An indicator valve for pneumatic tires and the like, comprising a tubular stem havinto the stem and secured by the ing a valve seat adjacent one end, a tubular indicator telescoping into the upper end of said stem and having a valve seat near its outer end, a contractile spring having' one end connected with the stem and its other end connected with the inner end of the indicator, a valve rod extending through the stem and indicator, and valves on said rod respectively adapted to close the seat in the stem and the seat in the indicator, and a spring for normally holding said rod so as to close the seat in the indicator and leave' the seat in the stem open.

3. An indicator valve for the purpose specified, comprising a tubular stem having a valve,seat adjacent its lower end, means for attaching the stem to an object, a tubular Aindicator telescoping the outer end of the stem and having a valve seat, means for preventing escape of air from the stem around the indicator, a helical spring having one end attached to the stem and the other to the indicator, a valve rod extending through the indicator and stem, valves on such rod respectively adapted to close the seat at thelower end of the stemand to close the seat in the indicator, a spring within the indicator normally causing said rod to seat the valve in the indicator, and a cap adapted to be screwed on the outer end of the stem over the indicator and valve rod,

melanie on said rod respectively adapted to close the seat in the stem and the seat in the indicator, and a spring for normally holding said rod so as to close the seat in the indicator and leave the 'seat in the stem open.

5. An indicator Valve for the purpose specified, comprising a tubular stem, means for attaching the stem to an obj ect, a tubular member screwed into the lower end of said stem, a valve'seat adjacent the tubular member at the lower end of the stem, a tubular indicator telescoping the outer end of the stem, a tubular member screwed into the inner end of the indicator, means for preventing escape of air from the stem around the lower end of the indicator, a helical spring having one end engaged withpthe tubular member attached to the stemafnd'tlic other engaged with the tubular memberyattached to the indicator, a valve rod extend-l ing through the indicator tubular stem andy tubular members, and valves on such rod :re

spectively adapted to close -the seat at the lower end of the tubular member and to close the seat in the indicator.

6. An indicator valve for the purpose specified comprising a tubular stem, means for attaching the stem to an object, a tubular member screwed into the lower end of said stem, a tubular nipple screwed to the stem and having a Valve seat adjacent the tubular member, a tubular indicator telescoping the outer end of the stem, a tubular member screwed into the inner end of the indicator, means for preventing escapey of air around the lower end of the indicator, a helical spring having one end engaged with the tubular member attached to the stem and the other engagedl with the tubular member attached to the indicator, a valve rod extending through the indicator, nipple stem and tubular members, valves on such rod respectively adapted to close the seat at the lowerl end of the tubular member and the seat in the indicator; a spring within the indicator normally holding the valve therein against the seat in the indicator, and a cap adapted to be screwed on the outer end of the stem and over the end of the indicator and valve rod, substantially as described.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I aix my signature.

WILLIAM W. LOWER. 

